Europe is on edge with no hope in sight for an end to Russia’s unprovoked war with Ukraine. The Middle East is also on edge as Israel seeks to remove the last remnants of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist’s group, Hamas, from the Gaza Strip while also protecting itself from another Iranian-backed terrorist’s organization, Hezbollah, to the north. And Asia is no better after China’s Communist President Xi Jinping threatened the sovereignty of Taiwan when he declared during his New Year’s address that “The reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability.” To top it all off, Iran’s nuclear program is back in the news and the news is nothing short of alarming.
According to David Albright, a former United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq, Iran “would only need about a week to produce enough for its first nuclear weapon. It could have enough weapon-grade uranium for six weapons in one month, and after five months of producing weapon-grade uranium, it could have enough for twelve.” In his report titled, “How quickly could Iran make nuclear weapons today?” Albright observes, “The other major poles in the tent are ‘nuclear weaponization’ and delivery. Iran has a variety of delivery systems, including nuclear-capable missiles: the delivery pole is ready.”
In terms of “nuclear weaponization,” Albright notes that Iran has multiple pathways but the “two most prominent pathways are (1) launching an accelerated effort to achieve a few crude nuclear weapons or reconstituting, or (2) completing its earlier Amad nuclear weapons program with the ability to serially produce annually many warheads suitable for delivery by ballistic missiles.”
While the second pathway poses “notable challenges,” Albright believes the “accelerated program can be accomplished in a matter of six months and would involve activities conducted in far smaller, more disguisable facilities.” In fact, Albright concludes that “This path is a more assured way for Iran to establish itself as a nuclear weapons power while leaving little time for the international community to react.”
How much time? Albright’s report calculates that “Western intelligence agencies may have less than two months to respond.”
Why should this matter to citizens of the United States and Israel and their western allies? Because Iran is not only the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, it is committed to the destruction of the United States and Israel.
On the evening of October 7, 2023, after Hamas terrorists murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, raped women and young girls, beheaded and burned infants alive in front of their parents, and took roughly 240 people hostage, the Iranian regime hosted massive street parties in Tehran, provided free sweets and lemonade along with a fireworks display, as the Iranians chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” Less than a month later, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, declared, “The situation between America and Iran is this: When you chant ‘Death to America!’ it is not just a slogan – it is a policy. . . . “If it were not for America’s support, if it were not for the support of U.S. weapons, the corrupt and artificial Zionist regime [Israel] would have been destroyed in the first week. It would have collapsed. The Americans are behind this.”
Why are these developments important when it comes to understanding the events of the latter days? The prophetic stage is being set for the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation. One event that will precede the Great Tribulation is the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39). During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel. According to the book of Ezekiel, “Persia,” modern-day Iran, will be part of an alliance that will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:5, 8). These nations will “devise an evil plan” against Israel and with overwhelming force “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10).
In the midst of this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3). So, it appears that the stage is being set for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).
Watch and pray. Stay alert and intercede for Israel.
by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 16, 2024